Quad and Hamstring Exercises to Strengthen Bad Knees

The ability to move with ease is a great gift, but often it isn’t appreciated until it’s lost.

By taking the time to strengthen the surrounding muscles of the knee, you can avoid many of the little aches and pains that can develop over time. This will allow you to enjoy the daily activities you love without pain or discomfort.

A self-evaluation of the integrity of your knees requires you to consider two key points. First, are the muscles around the knee flexible? Can you easily flex and straighten your knee without pain or discomfort? Second, are you strong enough to support your body on each leg while extending or flexing the knee?

The Workout

These exercises focus on strengthening the main muscle groups that affect the quality of movement for your knee. Strengthening the hamstrings and the quadriceps should be seen as a dual effort instead of individual, isolated movements.

A few simple exercises completed each day will ensure you have the strength and flexibility necessary to move freely without pain.

1. Standing Hip Hinge

The ability to bend at the waist and engage the glutes and hamstrings to pull yourself back up plays an enormous role in how energy passes through the knee. Strengthening these muscles can help protect the knee joint.

Equipment needed: light weight (optional)

Muscles worked: core, hamstrings, and glutes

Stand upright with your feet parallel. They should be about hip-width distance apart. Place your hands on your hips.

With a soft bend behind the knees, hinge slowly over from the waist. Shift the weight in your feet back to your heels as you “reach” back with your rear end.

Once you have reached a point that stretches your hamstrings without completely bending over at the waist, stop and return to the top.

Make sure to squeeze your glutes and hamstrings until you reach the top.

Perform 2 to 3 sets of 12 to 15 repetitions.

Take It to the Next Level

If completing the standard hip hinge is easy for you (and you’ve already tried to perform it with a weight), try doing it on 1 leg.

Stand on 1 leg. Keep your hands on your hips.

With a soft bend behind the knee, hinge forward on one leg as the opposite leg extends backward behind you. Do this until you feel a full stretch in the hamstring of the leg you’re standing on.

With hips level to the floor, use your single leg glute and hamstring to stand upright.

Without touching the floor, complete 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each leg.

2. Seated Leg Extension

The last few degrees needed for full leg extension come from a muscle in the quads called the vastus medialis. This exercise will help strengthen your quads.

Equipment needed: 1- to 3-pound ankle weight (optional)

Muscles worked: quadriceps

Start seated in a chair in the upright position. Your back should be flat.

To reach the perfect position, make sure the leg is completely parallel to the ground and the ankles are flexed up toward the knee, toes to the ceiling.

Slowly lower the foot back down to the floor and repeat.

Complete 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions on each leg.

3. Wall Facing Chair Squats

To ensure that you have the right form and are using the correct muscles for this exercise, you’ll need to start by facing an open wall or door.

Equipment needed: standard table chair

Muscles worked: all the muscles in the lower body

Stand about 1 foot away from the wall you are facing. Place the chair just behind you. It should be at a comfortable enough height for you to sit down.

Facing forward with your feet parallel and hip-width distance apart, slowly lower yourself down (don’t plop) to sit in the chair. Do this without turning your head, face, hands, or knees to the wall.

Throughout the movement, brace your core. Drive down into the floor through your legs and stand all the way back up. You should lock out your hips at the top with good posture.

Complete 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions.

Take It to the Next Level

If you can easily sit down to the chair, then it’s time to step it up and complete a few rounds on one leg.

Stand on 1 leg with the opposite leg lifted off the ground. Keep your hands just to the outside of your hips for balance.

On 1 leg, slowly start to sit down on to the chair without plopping down.

Keeping the opposite foot off the ground, and without using your hands or losing balance, brace your core and stand up.

Complete 2 to 3 sets of 5 to 8 repetitions on each leg.

4. Low Plank Hold with Knee Flex

Walking, jogging, and many other exercises require your body to engage the quads of one leg while engaging the hamstrings of the opposite leg. This exercise will allow you to work both at the same time.

Without dropping your leg or your hips, extend the leg out and repeat.

Complete 2 to 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions on each leg.

The Takeaway

Everyone should have the ability to move without pain in the knees. This is true regardless of your age or physical ability. These exercises are perfect to complete in the comfort of your home, at the office during a short lunch break, or at your local fitness center.

Be aware of how you feel as you practice these movements. If pain or discomfort persists or increases, contact your doctor.